Edelbrock recommends the Performer RPM #7194 cam for these heads, BUT I'm considering running either the Comp Cams XE274 or the XE274HL (leaning towards the XE274HL). This engine will be a long-distance cruiser 440 cubic inch. Are these springs OK for the cam I want to run? Thank You!

Well I can only speak from experience with original Eddy aluminum heads, but I did not change the springs specific for the cam. People probably rarely do that, they just bolt on and go as long as the cams are under .600", like i did. I have run an Isky 292/.505 cam, and a comp "purple plus" 292/.509 cam with stock eddy springs, runs great.

first I'd note what your idle vacuum is in drive & second what vacuum range you are in in everyday cruising. I'd run a vac gauge to the interior so you can get a baseline what the eng is showing then you can pick the right springs for when you want the power circuit to tip in. and note any flat spot when you nail it. that'd be a start.

_________________________
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Hey Rapid, are you talking about valve springs or front/rear vacuum diaphragm carb springs? I've run a vacuum gauge in the car for many years. I have about 12"-14" vacuum, warmed up/at idle, with my current motor running a comp cams XE274 cam. It cruises at around 10"-12" vacuum (current 3.91 gears at 4000rpm on highway)

I'm building a 2nd motor for long-distance highway cruising with a very low budget. 9.5:1, 2.76 rear end, no overdrive. I'm just trying to figure out if I can run the springs that came on the Edelbrock E-street 84cc heads with relatively mild cam like the XE274 or XE274HL.

I know a matched set of cam/lifter/spring would be ideal, but I don't have extra cash to buy some springs IF the ones I have will work. The cam that Edelbrock recommends with these heads is much larger than I want to run in my cruiser motor & likely too big for 2.76 rear end gears from what I hear.

Thanks cracked for looking up the cams since I see my copy/paste job left out all the specifications. Yeah, the Edelbrock springs are 140lbs. seat pressure.... a little higher than recommended....but still single springs. I wish this wasn't a budget build, but it is....stock rocker arms, used valve covers, used intake, etc, etc, etc

I think I'm leaning towards running these springs & I know I'm pushing stock valve gear, but not too terribly bad. God forbid, I think the worst that could happen is punch a pushrod through a rocker or wipe the cam.....but not drop a valve.

I see your point... but my wallet & wife do not. I honestly planned to run stock iron heads, but I got a good deal & couldn't pass them up.

I am planning on replacing a few of the rocker arms that look/measure worn. Are you thinking that 140# seat pressure is too much for the rockers vs. 130#'ish seat pressure for a low-rpm highway cruiser motor?

The heads/springs are the only new parts on this motor except I feel the need to buy new pistons/rings and a smaller cam. I have a good used 292/509 DC purple shaft, but I think that's too big for 2.76 gears...otherwise I'd use that too.

I don't want to be stupid about this motor, but I don't want to spend money I don't have to.

The tight budget also demanded reuse of the stock stamped steel rocker arms, not a bad thing since they’re stable to 6,000 rpm. The Stealth heads come equipped with single 330-pound valvesprings (safe to 0.510 lift), 7-degree locks, and chrome moly retainers that are all supplied to 440 Source by Comp Cams. To prevent deflection with the stiffer springs, the stock 0.310-diameter SAE 1065 steel tubing pushrods were replaced with 3/8-inch chrome-moly items from Comp (PN 7934-16).

I am about to find out this summer with my 432 Stroker Kit

I will bee running the E Street Heads 75cc , Comp Cams XE275HL , and went from the factory used 47 year old rockers and replaced them with the Sealed Power Rocker Arms and Shafts

The Sealed Power Stamped Steel Rocker Arms are thicker steel when i measured them compared to the factory rockers

I have two friends running the 440 Stealth Heads , Comp Cams XE275HL , and the 440 Source 496 Stroker Kit on the street the last few years running factory rocker arms with zero issues

Highway cruiser....I'm putting in 2.76's believe it or not. I can't afford a Kessler or Gear Vendor overdrive & I want to drive the car cross-country. That's why I'm building this mild motor.

I've got the XE274 cam in my current motor now and it seems very tame (good for a highway cruiser)... at least it's tame vs. the 292/509 I pulled out. fyi-I'm running 3.91's now & my rpm's are just over 4000rpm on the highway (slow lane) & I don't feel comfortable loading up the family & driving 1500 miles like that.

I have adjustable rockers on my current motor, but I don't want to rob them off the engine to build this one...plus, I don't want to have to adjust valve lash on the side of the road in Florida or Canada or wherever, so I'm pretty locked-in on non-adjustable rocker arms.

My 2.76 center section should be done next week & I do plan to try them out with my current motor to see if I can put the car in gear up a hill without frying the clutch (4spd). If yes, then the XE274, XE275HL, or similar Hughes, Isky or ? cam will go in. If I can't drive the car with the 2.76's and the XE274, then I will look at the XE268 or similar smaller cam.

I'm trying to build this motor cheap so my wife doesn't shoot me. I need to buy a cam/lifters, new Icon 2618 pistons (about 9.5:1 compression) and get the machine work done. I'm putting the heads together now. I just need to be sure I can run the springs that came on the Edelbrock heads & it seems like the consensus is that I'm OK, but on the edge.

Welcome to a disaster! What's worse, you are planning a disaster. The Comp XE275HL is newer and better than the XE274, but EITHER cam is too much for an engine that will rarely see over 3000rpm. With a 26" tire and 2.76 gears, 80mph will be 2855rpm plus converter slippage.

So you spend all the money and then the car is a dog around town and probably gets lousy gas mileage on the highway.

The .509 cam has 242 degrees duration at 50 lift, so saying something is milder than that is not saying much. The first cam that comes to mind for your combination is the Crower 271HDP which has 222 degrees intake duration at 50 and just under 1/2" lift.

The 267 HDP would be even better. Part number 32241. Its intake duration is 10 degrees larger than the stock Mopar HP cam.

The Comp Cams guy said it, people always pick too large a camshaft. That's one reason why most consumer type cams are ground 4 degrees advanced. I'd pick an intake lobe of 220 degrees at 50, exhaust lobe no more than 6 degrees longer, and LSA of around 110 degrees.

You'll get all sorts of crazy suggestions and many will be from people who apparently don't drive their cars anywhere except the drag strip. You have good flowing heads and don't need to crutch them with a huge camshaft.

Welcome to a disaster! What's worse, you are planning a disaster. The Comp XE275HL is newer and better than the XE274, but EITHER cam is too much for an engine that will rarely see over 3000rpm. With a 26" tire and 2.76 gears, 80mph will be 2855rpm plus converter slippage.

So you spend all the money and then the car is a dog around town and probably gets lousy gas mileage on the highway.

The .509 cam has 242 degrees duration at 50 lift, so saying something is milder than that is not saying much. The first cam that comes to mind for your combination is the Crower 271HDP which has 222 degrees intake duration at 50 and just under 1/2" lift.

The 267 HDP would be even better. Part number 32241. Its intake duration is 10 degrees larger than the stock Mopar HP cam.

The Comp Cams guy said it, people always pick too large a camshaft. That's one reason why most consumer type cams are ground 4 degrees advanced. I'd pick an intake lobe of 220 degrees at 50, exhaust lobe no more than 6 degrees longer, and LSA of around 110 degrees.

You'll get all sorts of crazy suggestions and many will be from people who apparently don't drive their cars anywhere except the drag strip. You have good flowing heads and don't need to crutch them with a huge camshaft.

R.

Fair enough. I will look at the Crower and some milder cams. I don't have a torque converter & I plan to get slightly taller tires soon, but I see your point. My 2.76 center section will be done months before I buy a cam, so I'm planning to test your theory with my current motor which has the XE274 in there right now.

I don't want to go too conservative...I have a lead foot & the nitrous system is staying on the car..... but cruising long distance is the intent of the new engine. I will check those cams out now.